Gulf oil spill: 'Like the great lakes,' EPA chief says

 

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson flew over the gulf oil spill Saturday, later telling people at a meeting in New Orleans that “it’s like all five of the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes are oil sheen.”

Jackson spent much of her time dealing with residents' memories about Hurricane Katrina and the slow federal response to that disaster.

The meeting took place in a tiny church in the Lower Ninth Ward, a hardscrabble neighborhood symbolic of Washington’s ineptitude in responding to the 2005 hurricane. Almost five years after the storm ripped through, houses were abandoned, boarded up and spray-painted with markings that officials had left while searching for the dead: “9-10” for date inspected, “DEA” for agency, “0” for animals found, “0” for people.

Inside the church, stacks of The National Baptist Hymnal had been pushed aside for at least 50 people and some TV cameras. Community leaders questioned Jackson – who reminded them she had grown up in New Orleans – and their concerns were clearly informed by the sluggish Katrina response.

This time, however, BP was cast as the villain and Washington as a would-be white knight they didn’t yet trust. “I’m still leery of the EPA,” one man told Jackson, to scattered applause.

The crowd wanted to know if the government would work with community groups and call in social service help for still-fragile communities.“There aren’t any cities that have five years of practice in how to come together,” another man said. One woman mentioned the “double whammy” of Katrina and the oil spill on the poor.

“We are not well. No, we are not well,” said another speaker, Alice Craft-Kerney, a nurse who runs the Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic.

Questioners talked about needing “factual information,” as opposed to the rumor and commotion that marked the days after Katrina. One man fretted about Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans, which thus far has been unaffected by the spill. Aaron Viles, campaign director for the Gulf Restoration Network, mentioned the conflicting reports of how much oil was spewing into the water.

“I’m worried a lot of spinning is happening,” Viles said. “We want to make sure the federal government is doing the math, not letting BP off the hook.”

The crowd worried about the potential for region-wide economic devastation and wanted BP to hire more local fishermen for the cleanup effort, saying the oil company hadn’t moved fast enough to enlist them near Venice, La., where the spill is poised to strike.

“I know everyone’s mad,” said a patient Jackson, who said Washington was overseeing the cleanup efforts and had pushed BP to hire locals. At least three times, she said some version of “the polluter pays,” which was met with applause and murmurs of “BP Oil.”

The slick had red-orange stripes that she compared to a tiger’s. Some of the oil booms intended to corral the spill had broken, though she said that was not uncommon. “I’m still praying they will be able to cut off the source,” she said.

Jackson said she was skeptical of dispersing the gushing oil at the wellhead, a method officials were testing, and that much about the spill’s potential effect was still unclear, including which fisheries might be closed and for how long.

“It’s just like a hurricane,” she said. “We’re looking at the forecast. We’re trying to figure out where it’s going to go.”

-- Geoff Mohan

Photo: NASA image of oil spill, April 29.

Comments

[azmi]

suggestion methods that used to clean-up oil spills in the water and on the lands.

[Austin]

In reply to kws' uneducated and vile New Orleans comment.... How about you (and other idiots like you)come down here and clean up this ecological mess so we won't weasel any more $$$ from the Fed.... FYI - BP and it's other subcontractor's (Cameron and Haliburton) are ultimately responsible for this $14 billion tragedy. The Fed is also responsible to some lesser degree given this well is in Federally controlled waters and Louisiana only gets a token share of the rolyalties as do the other 49 states. The billions dumped into Louisiana was a direct function of the Corp of Engineers designed and built Federal levee system that failed when Katrina hit. The estuaries in Louisisna, Mississippi and Alabama supply more than half of the seafood commerce not to mention the oil and gas that supplies a significant part of the nation. It's idiots like you who don't have a clue what really is going on in New Orleans other than you enjoy the products that Louisiana produces for the rest of the country and world.... Next time you post, how about posting your name so the rest of the world can see who you are....

[stephen]

WHAT'S NEW USA? Just another example of yankee environmental footprints
choking out the world environment, with no hint of oil-chugging consumerism to ever do anything but swell and gurgle, until there are no fish in the sea, birds in the air, or people on the planet. NOw there are 4000 rigs afloat in the gulf, and Prez Pobama wants to start up in the Atlantic seacoast and the arctic? So much for his "new approach." America is self destruction bound. Too bad they have to take so much of the world with them. Oh Canada, y Viva Mexico. To the USA administration, consider what you've done and where you're going. The Gulf of Mexico is a world oceans resource, not a money pit for big ugly oil companies of the USA.

[Bill Carson]

We need to review the George Stephanopoulos interview the other day in which the Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary E. Landry told George there was no leak!   Where did the Rear Admiral get this faulty information and who does are government think they are dealing with?

On April 27, 2003, Exactly seven years ago the Bouchard Barge B-120 hit an obstacle in Buzzards Bay, creating a 12-foot rupture in its hull and discharging an estimated 100,000 gallons of No. 6 oil. The oil is known to have affected an estimated 90 miles of shoreline, numerous bird species, and recreational use of the bay, such as shell fishing and boating.

Note # Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary E. Landry was in charge of the Buzzards Bay oil spill in addition to the recent Gulf of Mexico spill. Do we need answers?

[Pete]

Any comparison of this tragedy to the Exxon spill is an injustice. While the Alaska spill was terrible, the impact of the gulf spill will be many times greater. The Exxon spill was relatively confined, this spill will cover hundreds if not thousands of miles making any so called clean up nearly impossible. Secondly, this is the mating season for nearly every species in the gulf. Many are already threatened or endangered. It makes my heart ache. Wildlife organizations are doing what they can including Wildlife Forever. Through our facebook causes page (The Campaign to Help Gulf Coast Critters) you'll find many ways you can start to help: Buy, donate, join, tweet & share. Stop by and see what you might be able to do: http://www.causes.com/causes/479364?m=bff1245d

[Paul Harris]

This is an incredibly sad situation.

On a different note I'm already seeing the media construe this as "Obama's Katrina" (They tried that with the Haiti disaster as well.)

Frankly, I can't tell you how many times in almost 5 years that I've heard conservatives yell that Katrina was something that should have been handled by the locals. This in spite of the fact that it was larger than 9/11, the Oklahoma City Bombing, the Northridge California earthquake and the San Diego firestorms combined.

Now these same folks, many led by Rush Limbaugh are saying that the oil spill, which is the fault of a private corporation IS suddenly the responsibility of the Federal Government. How hypocritical can they get? And to think in 2008 how many right wing media members lied that Katrina didn't cause any oil spills and therefore we should be expanding oil drilling in the Gulf.

Paul Harris
Author, "Diary From the Dome, Reflections on Fear and Privilege During Katrina"

[kws]

After the billions that were dumped on NOLA, they are still taking every chance they get to weasel more money from the Feds. How despicable.

[Bill Carson]

On April 27, 2003, Exactly seven years ago the Bouchard Barge B-120 hit an obstacle in Buzzards Bay, creating a 12-foot rupture in its hull and discharging an estimated 100,000 gallons of No. 6 oil. The oil is known to have affected an estimated 90 miles of shoreline, numerous bird species, and recreational use of the bay, such as shell fishing and boating.

We need to review the George Stephanopoulos interview the other day in which the Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary E. Landry told George there was no leak!   Where did the Rear Admiral get this faulty information and who does are government think they are dealing with?

[William F. Slater, III]

As the current Gulf of Mexico oil spill that BP is responsible for rapidly becomes our country's WORST ecological disaster, I am wondering why BP always talks a good line on Safety, and then put profits before people and safety. Here's more proof of that statement: http://www.efcog.org/wg/ism/events/Spring07Mtg/docs/Lessons_Learned_From_Texas_City_Refinery_Explosion.pdf
BP will pay tens of billions of $ for their arrogant culture, and now that Helios Logo might as well be a Target. Go, Lawyers, Go!!!